Attachment for workbenches



TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT ES Filed Dec. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

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ATTACHMENT FOR WORK BENCHES Filed Dec. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EW E TLB INVEN TOR. CHA PL 55 fl/z/L-s TE/A/ A TTORNEKS.

I ticularly to a drawer- Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR WORKBENCHES Charles Wulstcin, New'York, N. Y. Application December 12, 1942, Serial No. 468,856

4 Claims.

My invention relates to attachments for work benches, desks, tables or shelves, and more parlike extension structure including a container such as for cleaning liquid.

In manufacturing and repair shops, some means must often be provided for storing and applying cleaning liquid to be readily available at the work bench. In an automotive repair shop, for instance, a container and some aux iliary equipment is as a rule required for cleaning electrical and machine parts such as parts of the starter, generator or distributor, carburetors, magnetos, etc Similar conditions occur in shops for repairing or assembling watches, clockworks or other mechanical devices. It is customary in many such places to use cans, separate trays or the like makeshift equipment for these purposes.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved means for storing and applying, cleaning liquid for uses of the above-mentioned type. More specifically, an aim of the invention is to provide a drawer-like attachment for work benches or the like which combines a container, at working tray and a drain so as to have this equipment readily available and in proper position relative to the bench top when needed, while permitting the entire outfit, when not in use, to be moved beneath the top. Another object of my invention is to provide a drawer-like extension structure, preferably in combination with a container and tray device, which is capable of supporting heavy loads when in extended position and hence is sturdy enough to permit being used in small as well as in large-size constructions and suitable for shops where a relatively rough treatment is to be expected.

To achieve these ends, the invention provides a slidable drawer-like structure of particular type and, in another though correlated aspect, a tray of particular shape movably associated with a container secured to the slidable drawer structure, Details of these devices as well as their function will be explained presently with reference to the example illustrated in the drawings.

Fig. 1 represents a sectional side elevation of an attachment according to the invention, the drawer structure being in extended position and ready for use.

Figs. 2 and 3 are a top view anda front elevation of the same attachment shown in the same operative position.

Fig. 4 is another sectional side elevation of the same attachment as shown in Fig. 1, the drawer,

container and tray structure, however, being in stored-away position underneath the top of the working bench or desk.

In these figures, i denotes the top of the bench. Two supporting members 2 and 3, each of angular cross section, are firmly secured to the underside of the top I. The member 2 lies close to the edge of the top, while member 3 is relatively remote therefrom. These supporting members have bores so as to form slide bearings for two spaced drawer members, both denoted by 4. Each of the drawer members has two limbs 5 and 6 running in parallel to each other. Iron or brass rods of circular or other cross section and bent to a U-shape may be used as such drawer members. As apparent from the drawings, the two limbs 5 and 6 of each member 4 lie one above the other, only the upper limb 5 being guided in the slide bearing formed by supporting member 2, while the lower limb 6, or preferably both limbs, are in slidable engagement with supporting member 3. It is apparent that both drawer members 4 can be pushed beneath the top I (Fig. 4) or pulled out into extended position (Fig. 1), stops 15 being provided for limiting the extension and preventing the members 4 from being pulled out of the supporting member 3.

Attached to the lower limbs 6 of the drawer members is a container 1 for cleaning liquid. This container is preferably secured to the limbs by turning the lateral edges of the container around the limbs, A strainer 8 serves to provide a sump underneath the supporting surface for sludge removed from articles placed into the container. The provision of such a strainer has the advantage that it separates the sludge from the liquid and prevents it from being stirred up each time an article or cleaning brush is placed into the container. Thus the liquid is much better conserved than in the customary containers. A drain petcock 9 permits removing the upper, less contaminated portion of the liquid. The strainer can be removed and the more or less solid sump depositions scraped out from time to time.

Hinged to the container 1 is a wash or working tray in, the hinge being located at M. The tray I0 is of a bent shape sothat its portion II, in the working position of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, rests flat on the top surface of the bench. The portion l2 of the tray closer to the hinge forms a drain, and hence guides liquid escaping from the tray portion H back into the container 1. Both portions it and 12 of the tray are surrounded by rim l3 bent away from the tray surface to prevent spilling of the liquid.

When turning the tray it down toward the container 1, it reaches the position apparent from the top or the bench. a container for cleaning Fig. 4 in which it forms a lid-like cover with its liquid mounted on said structure so as to be excenter portion projecting towards the bottom of tensible from beneath to a position in front of the storage container. When in this position, said top, a tray hinged to said container to form the tray is entirely removed from the working s a lid-like member, said tray having a bent shape surface of the bench top I, and permits movso as to project towards the bottom of said coning the entire drawer structure beneath the bench 'tainer when turned down while having one portop, as is also illustrated in Fig. 4. tion of said tray rest on said top when said con- It will be seen from the foregoing description tainer is in the extended position and said tray that when the attachment is in working posilo turned up, another portion of said tray when in tion according to Figs. 1 to 3, the surface of the said turned-up position forming a drain leading tray portion II is virtually flush with the surinto said container, both said portions having a face of the bench top and in proper p n for ntin ou peripheral rim bent upwardly to preplacing articles on the tray. The articles can vent spilling of the liquid. then be cleaned, using for this purpose liquid 3. Drawer-type attachment for work benches taken from the container 1. h liquid is preand the like, comprising two drawer members each vented from spilling over the bench, any ex ess having two elongated limbs forming together a liquid being drained into the container by means U-shaped structure, supporting means for se of the rimmed tray portion I2. Sin e th r curing said members beneath the top of the is secured to the container, it is always readi y bench so as to have said limbs of each disposed availa e de pite the fact that it is automatione above the other, said supporting means formcally stored away after the container is closed ing a bearing slidably engaging t upper one n Pushed into the Posi n ccording to Fig. 4- of said limbs while leaving the lower one unen- Since the container is secured to the bench, i gaged, said bearing being arranged close to an can also be used to advantage f r the emp edge of said top, anotherbearing formed by said safekeep ng of articles to be cleaned. supporting means and slidably engaging at least It will be noted that the container when stored th lower one of said b Said letter bearing aw -y lies underneath the sup n member being remote from said edge as compared with In other words, due to the at a m t of the said first bearing, and a container mounted on container to the lower limb B, eav g the Upper said drawer members and secured to said lower limb 5 entire y free, the Slide bearing formed limbs of said members so as to lie in front of member '2 can be placed close to the ed e of the said top when said members are in extended pobench top without interfering with the abovesition and under said first bearing when moved described slide-away motion of the drawer strucbeneath t t ture. This has the advantage that the arran e- 4. Drawer-type attachment for work benches ment ofiers a very favorable leverage as re and the like, comprising two drawer members forces acting on the structure when it IS in the each having t elongated li b disposed i parextended position shown in Fig. C q allel to each other, supporting means for sey, the container can be loaded with relatively curing said members beneath the top of the heavy weights without ma instance: 40 bench so as to have said limbs of each disposed if the container and drawer structure is in the one above t th Said supporting means position of Fig. 1 but with the tray 10 Placed forming a bearing slidably engaging the upper on the container, a board y be Placed across one of said limbs while leaving the lower one t e upp limbs 5 and thus serve as an extension unengaged, said bearing being arranged close to of the bench top. V ry heavy pieces can an edge of said top, another bearing formed by be placed on the board without over-stressing said supporting means and slidably engaging t the structure. least the lower one of said limbs, said latter bear- Iclaim: ing being remote from said edge as compared 1. Attachment for work n s and the 11KB, with said first bearing, a container for cleancomprising in com in with a drawer-type 5 ing liquid mounted on said drawer members and Structure adapteito be slidably Secured beneath secured to said lower limbs of said members so the top of the bench, acontainer mounted on said as to lie in fr nt; of said top when Said structure so as to be extensible from beneath to hers are in extended position and under said a position in front o Sa a tray hinged to first bearing when moved beneath the top, and said container to form a d-l e member, Said a tray hinged to said container to form a lidtray av ng a bent shape S0 s Project like cover, said tray having a bent shape so as wards the bottom of said container when turned to j t towards the tt f Said container down while having one portion of said trayrest when turned down while having one portion of on said top wh Sa container is in the said tray rest on said top when said drawer memtended position and said tray turned up, an bers and container are in the extended position portion of said tray when in said tumed-up poand said tray turned up, Said t having sition forming a drain leading o Said 6011- other portion extending from said first portion tai e to said container between said upper limbs so Aiitachment for Work benches and the mm, as to form a drain leading into said container comprising in combination with a drawerwhen said tray is in the turned-up position. structure adapted to be slidably secured beneath CHARLES W T I 

